Drier apparatus



Jan. 12, 1954 E. L. zl-:HRBACH 2,665,500

DRIERl APPARATUS Filed Deo. 6, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet l wlTNEssl-:s:INVENTOR Qq EDGAR I .zEHRBAcH BY @12M /f ATTORNEY E. zEHRBAcH 2,665,500

DRIER APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 12, 1954 Filed Dec. e, 1949INVENTOR 1 EDGAR L. zEHBBAcH BYW-M ATTORNEY.

WITNESSES; Ik a Jan. 12, 1954 E. zEHRBAcH DRIER APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet3 Filed DeC. 6, 1949 INVENTOR ATTORNEY EDGAR L. ZEHRBACH wlTNEssEs;

Patented Jan. l2, 1954 Dama' APPARATUS Edgar L. Zehrbach, Ma

Westinghouse Electri nslield, Ohio, assigner to c Corporation, EastPittsburgh,'Pa'., a corporation of Pennsylvania Appiieetiei December s,1949. seal No. '131,447

4 Claims. 1 My invention relates to apparatus lfor drying fabrics or thelike and, particularly, to domestic type clothes drying apparatus.invention is to provide improved apparatus of this kind. t l y Manyclothes driers of the` domestic type are installed in laundries or otherrooms and discharge air employed for drying directly into the room inwhich they arelocated. During operation, lint which clings to theclothes is separated therefrom and is carried in suspension in the airdischarged from the drier. A lint trap of foraminous construction isusually removably carried by the Vdrier structure for the separation ofthe lint from the discharged air. For the sake of appearance and becauseof space limitations, such traps are small and, therefore,`requirefrequent cleaning. Many operators are negligent in this respect with theresult that the traps'become clogged with lint and interfere with thedischarge of air from the drier.4 For best results, the trap should becleaned after each op-v eration of the machine. -v Y In accordance withmy invention, means is provided for indicating to the operator thatthe-trap should be cleaned, which means is activated inf response to theopening of the door of the drier for the removal of the dried fabrics.

Preferably, the trap structure is actuated to a position on the drierwhere it will be visible to the operator each time the door` Yof thedrier is moved to its full 'open position for kthe removal of thefabrics from the drier. In the aotive vor operating position of thetrap, it is out of view on a side wall of the `drier forthe sake ofappearance. When the door Vis opened, the

trap is moved, automatically, to a position wherein' it partiallyextends above Vthe top wall of` the drier casing. Accordingly, theoperator is warned that the trap should be cleaned. Some notifica` tionto this eiect may be printed o r stamped on the trap. The arrangement issuch'that'the door may be partially opened for adding a Ygarment to thedrier or for inspecting the load 'without actuating the trap, asdescribed; totherwarning position thereof above the wall ofthe casing.'

A further object'of my invention is to provide an improved domesticclothes drier having pro-1 visions for warning the operator that thetrap should be cleaned each timethe drier isv operated.

A still further object vof the invention is to actuate the 'lint trap ofa drier toa warning position on the drier in responsetormovementofthe'rdoor ofthe drier to openpo'siton- An object of myr These andother objects are effected by'my invention as will beapparent from thefollowing description and claims taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. l is a front elevation of a domestic clothes drier constructed andarranged in accordancel Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view takenthrough Fig. 4 is a section taken'along the line IV -1 \II of Fig. 3;Fig. 5 is a front elevation of a portion of the casing and showing theupper end of the Alint trap in a different position on the casing; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged section of a latch structure shown in Fig. e

Reference will now be had to the drawing wherein I have elected todisclose my invention applied to a domestic type clothes drier having anouter casing structure generally indicated, at

I0 and including a rear wall II and a frontwallj I2, an upper portion I3of the latter being n' clined rearwardly and upwardly of the casingstructure I0. Arranged'withinthe casingstructure Ie is a generallycylindrical baille ,I4 which denes and encloses a drying'chamber I5within the casing. The baille I4 has the rear end thereof welded orotherwise secured to the reary wall I I" of the casing and the front endof the baille I4 is connected to the front Wall portion I3 vof thecasing by a chute I6 which, as shown, `diyergfesfrom the outer casingtoward the baille III'.` The outer end of the chute I6 is secured in anywell understood manner to Vthe front wall of the kcasing and the innerend ofI the chute I6 iswelded or otherwise secured, as shown at'I'I,'to`, the front endof the bale I4. The open front end of the chuteis closed by a door 'I8 having a'pair of .supportingV brackets I9 whichare hingedropn bolts 2l, vthe latter being carried by the `front wall I2of the casing in any wellr understood manner. .l

Arranged within the drying chamber, I5E isfa basket generally indicatedat 22 and including a cylindrical side wall 23 which is per forat`e,sub-`r stantially, 'throughout' its extent,f a I' number .off theperforations being indicated at 2lI." The'V basket 22 is Valso providedwithfapluralitypofv,

radially, inwardly extendingvvanes 25` whichV function to tumble thefabrics during rotation of the basket. The front end wall of the basket,indicated at 26, is provided with a relatively large access opening 21which registers with the inner end of the chute I6. A rear wall 28 ofthe basket is secured in any well understood manner to a shaft 29, thelatter being journaled in a suitable bearing 3I carried by the rear wallI I of the casing.

Rotation of the basket is effected in any conventional manner by anelectric motor 32 mounted in a lower portion of the casing I2 and havinga shaft 33. The shafts 29 and 33 may be connected by a suitable beltedtransmission generally indicated at 34 and including a driving.

pulley 35 and a driven pulley 36. It will be noted that intermediatedriving and driven pulleys may be employed for providing `the speedreduction required, but these have not been shown for the sake ofbrevity and clearness.

The motor 32 also functions to drive a blower, the rotor of which isindicated at 31 and keyed or'otherwise secured to the shaft 33. Therotor 31 of the blower operates within a blower casing 38 which isformed at one end of a duct structure 39, the latter extendingtransversely of the casing and supporting, in part, the cylindricalbaiile I4. During operation of the motor, air enters the casingstructure I from the ambient atmosphere through a plurality of openings4I and enters the blower casing 38 through a relatively large inletopening 42. The air is passed through the duct structure 39 and isheated by anelectric heater 43. The latter is preferably formed of bareresistance wire and supported in any understood manner by a plate 44which functions vto close a service opening 45 formed in the front wallof the duct 39.

` Heated air passes from the duct structure 39 through' a conduit 45 tothe chute I6 and thence through the access opening 21 of the basket intocontact with fabrics which are elevated and dropped by the basket duringits rotation. The heated air abstracts moisture from the fabrics and isdischarged from the drying chamber I5 into a bok Astructure 41 carriedin the upper right hand'side of the casing III,` as shown in Figs. l and2. The rear wall II is provided with a discharge opening, indicated at48 and best shown in Fig". 4, for the passage of air and moisture fromthe box 41 to the ambient atmosphere. A drier having air circulatingfeatures of the type described up to now is disclosed and claimed in thecopending application of Ray T. Wakefield, Serial No. 127,454 filedNovember l5, 1949, and assigned to the assignee of the presentapplication.

In the operation of a drier of the type disclosed, lint which clings tothe fabrics is dislodged therefrom during their tumbling in the basketand is carried in suspension in the air which is passed through thedischarge opening 48.. In order to separate the lint from the air, alint trap generally indicated at I is supported by the rear wall II ofthe casing and over the discharge opening 48 therein. While any suitablelint trap may be employedJ prefer to show one of the type disclosed andclaimed in my C opending application, Serial N o.'194,8 43 filedDecember 3l, 1941, andassigned to the assignee of the presentapplication. For the sake of appearance and because of spacelimitations,v the lint trap structure 5I is made relatively narrow andis carried in an inconspicuous place on the rear wall of the drier.

The lint trap 5I includes a shallow pan 52 which is flanged as shown at53. The upper portion of the pan 52, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, orthe portion directly opposite the opening 48 is imperforate. The lowerportion of the pan 52 is provided with a relatively large air dischargeopening 54 which is provided with a screen 55 for the separation of lintfrom the air passed through the opening 54. The lint trap 5I ispositioned on the rear wall II of the vcasing by a pair of guides 55under which the flanges 53 are disposed. In order to provide asubstantially airtight connection between the lint trap .5l andthecasing wall II, the latter is provided with a flange 51 substantiallycoextensive with the nange 53 and engageable there by in the operatingposition of the trap 5I. The flange 51 is formed on a frame 58 which iswelded or otherwise secured to the rear wall II of the casing. A handle59 is provided for lifting the lint trap 5I when it is to be removed forcleaning. In this connection, the lint trap 5I is lifted until the ange53 is clear of the guides` 5 6 after which the lint trap 5I is free andmay be readily removed and cleaned, it being'n'oted that one entire sideof the lint trap structure is open in order to provide access to allinterior surfaces of the lint trap.

During operation of the drier, lint suspended in the air passing throughthe screen 55 is collected thereon. It is desirable that this lint beregularly removed from the trap and, in fact, it is desirable to removethis lint after each operation of the drier in order to insure that theOW of air from the drier will never become impeded. As set forthheretofore, many operators are negligent in cleaning the trap. Inaccordance with my invention, a signaling device is employed which willnotify the operator at the end of each cycle of operation that the linttrap should be cleaned. Any well known f orm of signaling device may beemployed and operated by the door I 8 of the drier when itis lowered toits open position for the removal of dried fabrics from the drier.Preferably, the lint trap itself is employed as a signaling device, thearrangement being such that the lint trap structure 5I is raised fromits operating position, as shown in Fig. 3, to a signaling or notifyingposition, as shown in Fig. 5,

when the door I8 is open. A legend 6I may be printed or stamped on theinner surface of the lint trap pan 52 for notifying the operator thatthe trap should be cleaned.

As shown in Figs. l to 3, inclusive., the pan 52 of the trap is biasedupwardly to the position thereof shown in Fig. 5 by a leaf spring 62riveted or otherwise secured to the rear wall II of the casing. The pan52 is retained in its operating position by a latch structure generallyindicated at 63, as best shown in Fig. 6. This latch structure 63includes a resilient spring latch 54 which is secured to the pan 52 bybolts 65. The latch 64 has an opening 66 formed therein for receivingcatches 61, the latter being formed on a plate 68 which is positioned onthe rear wall II of the casing. As shown, the plate 68 is secured to theframe 58 by a stud 59 extending through openings in the plate 68 andframe 58 and having a spun-over end, as shown at 1I.

The release of the latch 54 from the catch 61 is effected by a wire 12which extends through an opening formed in the stud B9. As best shown inFigs. 1 and 2, the wire 12 extends forwardly of the front wall portionI3 of the casing.Y The lower end of the vwire extends through an opening13 in one of the door brackets I9 and the end of the wire is bent toprevent its dislodgement from the vopening 13, as shown at 14. The upperportion of the wire 12 is positioned by a pair` of fingers 15 formed onthe inner side of the front wall portion I3, between which the wire isdisposed. It will be understood that the wire12 is relatively stiff and,preferably, formed of spring steel. l

` When the drier is in operation for the `drying of fabrics, the door I8is closed or in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The lint trap isalso positioned as shown in these two figures as well as Figs. 3 and 4.At the conclusion of the drying operation, the door is swung throughapproximately 120 degrees to a horizontal position from the positionshown in Fig. 2. Accordingly, that portion of the wire 12 which isadjacent the wall f portion I3 of the casing is swung upwardly betweenthe positioning fingers 15. This movement of the wire forces thehorizontal portion of the wire 12 rearwardly and into engagement withthe latch 64'. Fig. 6 shows a portion of the wire 12 as the door isbeing moved downwardly and just prior to the releasing of the latch 64from beneath the catches 61. When the door is moved to its horizontalposition, the wire will have forced the latch out of engagement with thecatch 61 and the spring 62 will then move the lint trap from theposition shown, for example, in Fig. 3 upwardly to the position shown inFig. 5. In the latter position, the upper end of the trap is raised toan exposed position above the top of the drier casing for notifying theoperator that the trap should be cleaned.

In this notifying position, the trap I is still positioned by the guides56. The operator may then lift the trap from the casing for cleaning. Inassembling the lint trap 5I to the casing, the operator positions thetrap behind the upper end of the guides 56 and then forces the trapstructure downwardly. In doing so, the latch 64 rides over the inclinedupper surfaces of the catches 61 and then snaps beneath the catches 61,the latter being received in the opening 66 in the latch. Thearrangement is such that the trap is unlatched at about the time thedoor is moved to its horizontal position. Accordingly, the operator maypartially open the door for the insertion of a fabric into the basketafter the latter is in operation or for an inspection of the load in thebasket without tripping the latch.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that I have providedan improved drier having provisions for notifying the operator that thelint trap requires attention, the notifying or signaling means beingactuated in response to movement of the drier door to its full openposition. The lint trap itself is preferably employed for this signalingoperation and is actuated to a position wherein it is unlatched from thedrier casing in carrying out the operation. Accordingly, the trap isreadily removable for cleaning. The arrangement is such that the doormay be partially opened for an inspection of the load at any time or foradding a garment or two to the drier after it has been started.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious tothose skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptibleof various changes and modifications without departing from the spiritthereof.

6 'what 1 claim-is: v r 1 1. In a drier for fabrics, the combination ofa casing structure having a drying chamber formed therein and providedwith an access opening in a wall thereof, a door carried by thecasingfstructure and closing said access opening, said door beingmovable to an open-position, means for'4 conveying air to the dryingchamber for# the abi-f' straction of water from fabrics containedtherein, means deninga passage in the casing for the discharge "of airland suspended lint from the drying chamber, a lint trap, means arrangedon the exterior of the casing for supporting the lint trap and providingfor movement thereof between an active position and a warning position,means for moving the lint trap to its warning position and means forenergizing said trap moving means in response to movement of said doorto its open position.

2. In a drier for fabrics, the combination of a casing structure havinga drying chamber formed therein and provided with an access opening in awall thereof, a door carried by the casing structure and closing saidaccess opening, said door being movable to an open position, means for`conveying air to the drying chamber for the abstraction of water fromfabrics contained therein, means dening a passage in the casing for thedischarge of damp air and lint suspended therein from the dryingchamber, a lint trap, means arranged on the exterior of the casing forsupporting the lint trap and providing for movement thereof between anactive and a warning position, means biasing the lint trap to itswarning position, a latch for retaining the lint trap in its activeposition and means connecting said door and said latch for releasing thelatch in response to movement of the door to its open position.

3. In a drier for fabrics, the combination of a casing structure havinga drying chamber formed therein and provided with an access opening in awall thereof, a door carried by the casing structure and closing saidaccess opening, said door being movable to an open position, means forconveying air to the drying chamber for the abstraction of water fromfabrics contained therein, means defining a passage in the casing forthe discharge of damp air and lint suspended therein from the dryingchamber, a lint trap, a pair of guides arranged on the casing forremovably supporting said lint trap, said lint trap having meansengaging the guides and providing for vertical movement of the trap onthe guides, a spring biasing said lint trap upwardly from its operatingposition to a second position wherein at least a portion of the trapextends above the casing while supported by the guides, latching meansfor maintaining the trap in its operating position and means responsiveto movement of the door to its open position for releasing the latchingmeans.

4. In a drier for fabrics, the combination of a casing structure havinga drying'chamber formed therein and provided with an access opening in awall thereof, a door carried by the casing structure and closing saidaccess opening, said door being movable to an open position, means forconveying air to the drying chamber for the abstraction of water fromfabrics contained therein, means defining a passage in the casing forthe discharge of damp air and lint suspended therein from the dryingchamber, a foraminous trap structure covering said passage forseparating lint from the air, means for movably supporting said trap ona side of the casing structure below the top thereof and providing forremoval of the trap from the casing, a. spring biasing said `,trapstructure to a position wherein it ,partially extends above the top 0fthe saisine, a latch for retaining the trap structure in its operatingpo;- sition and s Iwits disposed within the .casing and connecting saiddoor and laten, said wire acme otipg the latch for the release of thetrep str1iture ir; response to movement of the door to its 09@ PQS-OXLEDGAR L- References ,cited in the me of this ,patent UNITED STATESPATENTS 10 Number N'a-'me Date Watkins 1 oct. 12, 1920 Adland et al May11, i933 Waream Mar. 1;, 192,4 Dewey Mar. 25, 1924 FOREIGN PATENTSCountry Date* K I Great Britain V Jan. 26,1933

